Bolivia announces process of joining the Southern Common Market

Officials of countries at the CMC meeting

On July 3, the Bolivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the country's process of joining the South American Common Market (Mercosur) as a full member will be considered at the Mercosur Leaders' Summit taking place on July 4 (local time) in the northern Argentine city of Puerto Iguazú.

According to the Bolivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Minister Rogelio Mayta led the Bolivian delegation to the meeting of the Mercosur Common Market Council (CMC) held in Puerto Iguazú together with the foreign ministers of the official Mercosur member countries of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Bolivia's foreign minister has reaffirmed the country's determination to join Mercosur.

At the Mercosur Leaders' Summit, Argentina - the country holding the rotating presidency of this economic association - will review Mercosur's activities in the first half of this year and discuss important issues of the bloc, including the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU).

Currently, together with Chile, Colombia, Peru and Ecuador, Bolivia is an associate member of Mercosur. La Paz has shown its desire and determination to participate in the integration of this regional mechanism since 2012.

Venezuela was officially admitted as a full member of Mercosur in 2012 but its membership was suspended four years later for violating several Mercosur regulations.

In February, the Brazilian government, which will assume the rotating presidency of Mercosur for the next term, confirmed its intention to resume dialogue with the Venezuelan government on the issue of restoring official membership in Mercosur, while promoting the process of Bolivia's accession to this economic bloc.

According to VNA